WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR BALL RESTS ON A RAKE IN A BUNKER?

How many times have you seen a ball resting against a rake in a bunker? Have you ever wondered how to proceed if the ball moves when the rake is removed?

The following is an explanation of what a golfer must do in this situation.

First of all, rakes are considered movable obstructions and may be removed. If the ball does not move, the player must play the ball as is lies; however, if the ball moves, the player must replace the ball without penalty, provided the movement is directly attributable to the removal of the rake. Decision 20-3d/2 states the explanation of how to proceed in this situation.

Decision 20-3d/2: Ball in bunker moves closer to hole when obstruction removed and ball will not remain at rest when replaced; all other parts of bunker are nearer hole.

Q. A ball came to rest against a movable obstruction, a rake, in a bunker. When the rake was moved the ball rolled nearer the hole. According to Rule 24-1, the ball had to be replaced. Due to the slope and the fact that the sand was firm, the ball, when replaced, rolled closer to the hole. Under Rule 20-3d, if a ball will not come to rest on the spot where it originally lay, it must be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole where it can be placed at rest. The spot where the ball originally lay was farther from the hole than any other part of the bunker. Thus, there was nowhere to place the ball at rest in the bunker not nearer the hole. What is the proper procedure if:
• The only way the ball would remain at rest at the spot where it lay would be to press it lightly into the sand?
• The sand is so hard that it is impossible to replace the ball?

A. There is nothing in the Rules of Golf permitting a player to press his ball lightly into the sand or ground to make it remain at rest. Accordingly, in either case, since the player could not place the ball in conformity with the Rules, he should, in equity (Rule 1-4), have dropped the ball, under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

A Side Note:
Superintendents like to have rakes placed in bunkers for maintenance purposes. By having rakes placed in the bunkers, maintenance can go about their business quickly and not spend the day on and off mowers to move rakes. The view of the USGA is that rakes tend to be placed on the sides of bunkers, preventing the ball from rolling to the bottom of the bunker and resulting in a much more difficult shot. For these reasons, in addition to pace of play issues, the USGA suggests rakes be left outside bunkers in areas where they are unlikely to affect the movement of the ball. But placement is it up to the committee.

For other questions on the Rules of Golf, check out the other articles in NOGA's USGA Rules Corner! Play well, and get to know the Rules of Golf!